Assam: More than 20 People Summoned for NRC Hearings Today, Two Days Ahead of August 31 Publication

Guwahati, August 29, 2019:

It has come to light that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) authorities are still conducting hearings with less than two days to go until the publication of the final draft NRC, on August 31. A number of people, mostly from Biswanath district of Assam, have been summoned for hearings, which has evoked strong reactions from some local organizations.

All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) adviser Azizur Rahman told Inside Northeast that some people have been called for hearings in Biswanath Chariali. "Two days are left for the NRC publication. If they are still conducting hearings now, with two days left to go, rest assured there will be many loopholes in the final draft NRC", he said.

Saifuddin Ahmed, Vice president of All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU), told Inside Northeast, "The NRC will be published on 31 August, and today is the 29th -- only a few moments are left. What could be the reason behind calling these people for hearings now? The people who have been called belong to underprivileged classes. They were expecting to be included in the NRC, however, they have been summoned yet again. Today, many people have been summoned, no less than 20."

It may be mentioned here that the demand for the NRC started in 1980, ahead of the Assam Agitation of 1985, which had a great impact on the State and culminated in the signing of the somewhat-controversial ‘Assam Accord’.

A long spell of discussions and deliberations followed after the signing of the Assam Accord, and the Government of India and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) presided at the negotiating table for ten long years (1998-2008).

Modalities were prepared from 2008-2013, and actual work, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, began in 2013.

Join us as we continue the awareness campaign to preserve the only Ramsar site in Assam which is facing immense threats (A Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention). We need your help to preserve this site of great ecological importance. Join the #LetsSaveDeeporBeel campaign and tweet about it, and do tag us on Twitter. It is time to create awareness.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast